The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-06

i tunately there would be no expense con-
necleo with this. as their grandmother,
| knowing their task for crochet work, had
sent them at Christmas q large box filed
with worsteds IN various shades
This was now the 18th of May, and as
| their brothers birthday came upon the 6th
of June, their tine was limited, as in ad-
dltion TO studying out Of school hours their
! mother required OF tAen some assistance
| every day n houscworl,; but "where there's
a viii, there's way" and by improving the
/ odd minutes, they were astonlsEed. ut the
| end Of fortnight, TO find how much they had
accomplished. One morning, when Bob
had started earlier for school than usual,
having an errand to do for his father Oh
| his way, the girls brought together in his
room ali the listle knick-knacGs they had
! made, and began to place them in position
Ito see how they Will loOl1,' as Julia said.
''See here. Miu,'' said she show this red
merinO shows OF these pretty shells Of
! BOb's. Pm 50 glad thought Of it." Min
ME had been dressing the old rocking
I chair in it's new cover. but suddenly she
| stopped short. ~ lat IS the use" said
| she, --of trying TO make this room look nice.
with this old faded carpet on the -four!
Just see, Julia, how much worse it looks,
now the chair cover is done. Too strong
contrast, you see" Julia sat down with
sigh. Yes, have thought OF that a good
deaL'' said she, ''aud ! even brought cur
rug in, one day, and laid 1t down IN front
OF the bed, but the carpet looked worse
than ever then" II was, indeed, a shabby
affair, and Go what they would with bits
OF oil cloth here and there, at Minnie'S sug-
gestion, 1t still lOOmed up faded and thread
bare; and no wonder, for had it not already
done ten years good service on falher's
study floor, and WAS it not time for 1t 10
grow old and worn, like every thing else on
this mundane sphere! IF we coald only
afford a rev one" sighed Minnie, and
thereup0n she rushed OF to get mother TO
come up and see 1t.
As the wife of a poor clergyman on
small salary, Mrs. Halscy had long ago
learned to cOnjugate the verb ''to econO-
mize" in all its moods and lenses and 50
skilled had she become in applying 1t to the
various household necessities, that she was
valuable member of the family committee
on ways and means, whenever it was III
session. But she could give her daughters
no help this time. Il had hoped" she said,
'to be able to get new carpet for the sit
ting-room this spring and take the Old one
for this room. But your father viii have
urgent need of every dollar Of his salary
to meet his bills, and we must not think of
buying anything that we can possibly get
along without So am afraid Bobby will
nave TO keep his old carpet" 80, Gearr'
exclaimed Minnie, Il wish it was the fash
ion to crochet carpets. | would make one
in minute" At this her mother and sister
laughed heartily, and the former assured
her that it would take more than one minute
ID accomplish such a feat, and asked her if
she thought it would wear long enough to
pay for the time consumed in crochetng
it. At this juncturc, Mr.. Haisey's voice
was heard below, asking for his wife, as he
had just returned from the post-Office, and
had letter for her. 1t proved to be from
the dear old grandmother in Come cticut,
and one part of her letter we Will quote:
Il have not forgotten" she wrote that
BObbie's birthday is drawing near, and l
have just finished bedquIlt for him. 1t is
the same pattern as the one 1 made
for Julia and Minnie, but the colors
express, II few days, and please
do not let him see it until his birth |
day, and then give it to him with my
love-" When the girls heard this, Minnie |
fairly clapped her hands with delight, and |
hope as ours is blue and white, that his |
wi.l be red and white'' which wish |
was gratifed, as in a few days the box ar
rived, and the quilt was found to be COM
posed OF scarlet chintz set together with |
white.
II still wanted week to the birthday, |
and all was in readiness, but the subject of |
the carpet was a sore one, and the sisters |
had again and again wondered if there was
not some way in which they could earn |
money enough to buy it themselves. But |
no way of doing so having presented itself |
Julia declared one afternoon, as she and |
Minnie were setting the tea-table, that she |
was sure the bare floor would look better
than shat old carpet. Minnie had Just |
agreed with her, when the door-bell rang,
and going to answer it. she recognized |
young man VINO for some time had been
regular attendant upon her fathers Sun
day morning Bible class. He asked 10 see
MIR. Ealsey, and she showed I'm into the
study, and soon forgot the Grrcum Instance,
supposing he had called upon business.
While the family were at supper Mr..
Halsey remarked, I'VE are - have wed-
ding in the eLurch on Monday afternoon"
20, who is going to be marriel, father!'
asked JUlia and Minnie both at once. THAT
young Mr.. Benson who called 4 little
while ago." he replied. 'Do you know
who is to be the bride?" asked Mrs.
Halseyl mot any one in our church." her
husband answered.. ''SIe is one of the
young ladies at Mrs. StoWells dressmaking
rooms, and / imagine She has not been a
regular ChGrch-gOer. At any rate, Mr.
Benson told me she had no choice as TO
what minister should marry them. but left
il to him to decide. As she is an orphan,
living at boarding house they concluded |
10 have church Wedding"
How nice" said Minnie. II do hope it
win be after school, SO that we can 60" |
and she was much gratified to iiud that
four O'Clock was the appointed hour.
Julia and Minute. like most girls of four
teen and sixteen years of age, liked to at
tend weddings, but ~ the little town in New
Jersey where they resided such events
were rare. True, their father was occa-
sionally invited 10 perform the ceremony |
',at the residence OF the brides parents" /
but beyond an invitation sometimes for his /
wife, his family was usually ignored. On |
further questioning their father, the girls |
elcijed the information that as no cards OF |
formal invitation were to be issued, the |
wedding could DE witnessed by any who |
chose TO at, end, and the bridal pair were /
TO proceed directly from the church to the |
railway station, and go to New York for a !
few days visit with Mr.. Beuson's relatives |
in that city. While washing up the tea |
dishes, Julia and Minnie fell to discussing |
the ccmiug event with as much interest as /
though it was to be the marriage of one of |
their own relatives. IVY hat will the bride |
wearl' was of course an important Ques- |
ton. and Hob quoted: